The Aptera company ensures that the solar car is getting closer to entering production, thanks to the more than 22,000 reservations it has and a new round of financing for which it has obtained 40 million dollars.
Various entities from the technology sector, universities and even individuals have made their contribution so that the futuristic three-wheeled vehicle, which promises up to 1,609 km of autonomy, can stop being a project and become a reality after being developed for almost two decades.
The keys to its success?
Mainly there are three: its design, its technology and the autonomy it offers, even its value. When reality could surpass fiction, for only less than 25,000 euros.
In 2006 it was the first time that the Aptera project began, invented by Chris Anthony and Steve Fambro. At that time it did not work out, then after reformulating the main lines of design and technology of its curious solar electric vehicle, the firm was relaunched in 2020.
Since then, Aptera has moved pretty fast. While it has been subjecting the SEV to various performance tests, last year it obtained 4 million dollars in funds and received more than 7,000 advance orders (prior reservation of 100 dollars, which is about 93 euros).
Currently the company ensures that its order book already exceeds 22,000 orders, and the collection reaches 40 million dollars. The success of the Aptera (especially in the US) lies in three keys.
Starting with its futuristic design and specially designed for two occupants, the Aptera is very different from the rest of the options on the market: it has three wheels, it measures 4.36 m long, 2.23 m wide and 1.44 m high. . In addition, it promises a trunk capacity of 708 l.
Other information to highlight is that it has one of the best aerodynamic coefficients on the market, with a Cx of just 0.13.
On the other hand, the Aptera has two mechanical variants: a 100 kW (136 hp) front-wheel drive version and another all-wheel drive whose engines deliver up to 150 kW (204 hp). The first ensures acceleration from 0 to 96 km/h in 5.5 seconds, the second does the same in 3.5. In both cases, the maximum speed is 177 km/h.
Its promising autonomy is added to its design and performance, as there are up to four battery options, of which the most capable (with 100 kWh) announces more than 1,600 km on a single charge.
This can be done as in any electric vehicle, but what differentiates the Aptera from the others is that, on many occasions, this would not be necessary: its almost 200 photovoltaic cells distributed throughout the vehicle are capable of charging up to 65 km of autonomy just parked and a total of 72 km per day while driving.
This will depend on factors such as the type of driving, the km traveled and the weather conditions, yes, but it is quite a milestone for an SEV.
If to all this we add a price that starts at 25,900 dollars and reaches 50,700 dollars – from just over 24,100 euros to around 47,200 euros, we have enough ingredients to justify the success that the Aptera is having at other side of the pond.
It is true that there are other solar car projects that can already be requested under reservation, such as the Lightyear One or the Sono Motors Sion, but the Aptera has a good advantage at the moment.
And it is that the company has announced that the vehicle could go into production this year. reported The USA Herald, a news and information agency.